Patents Assigned to Belimo Holding AG
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Patent number: 9982955Abstract: A method for operating a heat exchanger, through which a heat transfer medium flows on a primary side, entering the heat exchanger with a first temperature and exiting the heat exchanger with a second temperature. The heat transfer medium emits on a secondary side a heat flow to a secondary medium flowing through the heat exchanger in the case of heating or, in the case of cooling, absorbs a heat flow from the secondary medium which enters the heat exchanger with a third temperature and exits the heat exchanger again with a fourth temperature. The heat exchanger is capable of transferring a maximum heat flow. At least three of the four temperatures are measured and the respective saturation level of the heat exchanger is determined from these measured temperatures and is used for controlling the operation of the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Markus Friedl, Marc Thuillard
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Patent number: 9964963Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure equalizing insert (1) which is provided for installation in a valve (10) for regulating a fluid stream in particular in a HVAC system. The pressure equalizing insert (1) comprises a housing (2) having an actuating member (3) which is movably mounted thereon and is configured to at least partially guide the fluid stream regulated by the valve (10) and, when the pressure equalizing insert (1) is installed, co-operates with a valve seat (15) depending upon a pressure difference prevailing in the fluid stream in order to regulate the fluid stream. The invention further relates to a valve (10) having an installed pressure equalizing insert (1), wherein the pressure equalizing insert (1) can be inserted in particular as a pre-assembled assembly into the valve (10).Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Andrew James Jukes, Urs Keller
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Patent number: 9964329Abstract: A 6-way valve (20) comprises two similar 3-way sub-valves (20a, 20b) being mechanically coupled with each other, such that both sub-valves (20a, 20b) are always in the same position, whereby each sub-valve (20a, 20b) has three different valve ports (33, 34, 35) and a valve member (22?) with an internal connecting channel (29), which valve member (22?) can moved between first and second end positions via an intermediate position such that in said first end position the first (33) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), in said second end position the second (34) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), and in said intermediate position said connecting channel (29) is disconnected from said first and second valve ports (33, 34).Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Ryan Whitmore, Daryl Kaufman, Urs Keller, Beat Hotz
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Patent number: 9958883Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system (10), in which medium circulating in a primary circuit (26) flows through at least one energy consumer (11, 12, 13), the medium entering with a volume flow (?) through a supply line (14) into the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a supply temperature (TV) and leaving the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a return temperature (TR) via a return line (15), and transferring heat or cooling energy to the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) in an energy flow (E). A considerable improvement in the operating behavior of the system is achieved by empirically determining the dependence of the energy flow (E) and/or the temperature difference (AT) between supply temperature (TV) and return temperature (TR) on the volume flow (?) for the energy consumers (11, 12, 13) in a first step, and by operating and/or monitoring the HVAC system (10) according to the determined dependency or dependencies in a second step.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Vinod D'Silva, Mark Nightlinger, Marc Thuillard, Ronald Aeberhard
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Patent number: 9921011Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method of controlling opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system (100). The method includes controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to a default control mode in dependence of a default sensor signal. The method further includes determining, while controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to the default control mode, whether the default sensor signal is faulty and switching, in case of the default sensor signal being faulty, to controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to a fallback control mode, with the opening of the valve (10) being controlled independently of the faulty sensor signal in the fallback control mode. The present invention is further directed towards a corresponding control device opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system as well as a corresponding computer program product.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Ronald Aeberhard, Marc Thuillard, Philipp Mazenauer
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Patent number: 9903481Abstract: A control valve having a closing element, mounted in a housing between an inlet side and an outlet side and rotatable about an axis between a first and second end positions, and a passage channel through the closing element perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis. The channel has inlet and outlet openings and connects the inlet side to the outlet side in the first end position, disconnects the inlet side from the outlet side in the second end position, and permits an increasing throughflow of a medium during the transition from the second end position into the first end position with a characteristic curve. Low valve noise is achieved because of the shape, size and configuration of the inlet and outlet openings of the passage channel and the configuration of walls of the passage channel without steps and edges.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Urs Keller, Andrew James Jukes, Giuseppe Cicerchia
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Patent number: 9874880Abstract: For controlling the opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system (100) to regulate the flow ? of a fluid through a thermal energy exchanger (2) of the HVAC system (100) and adjust the amount of energy E exchanged by the thermal energy exchanger (2), determined are the flow ? through a valve (10) and the temperature difference ?T=Tin?Tout between the supply temperature Tin of the fluid entering the thermal energy exchanger (2) and the return temperature Tout of the fluid exiting the thermal energy exchanger (2). The opening of the valve (10) is controlled depending on the flow ? and the temperature difference ?T. For example, the opening of the valve (10) is controlled depending on a control criterion c=ƒ(?,?T), calculated from the flow ? and the temperature difference ?T.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Marc Thuillard, Forest Reider
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Patent number: 9864383Abstract: A hydraulic network (1) having plural parallel zones (Z1, Z2) with a regulating valve (V1, V2) in each zone for regulating a flow of fluid (?1, ?2) through respective zones. Characteristic parameters of the hydraulic network (1) include static flow capacity values (Kex,a, Kex,b) of the zones. Measurement data sets are recorded which include a determined value of a hydraulic system variable of the hydraulic network (1), e.g. the total flow (?tot) or the system pressure (?P), and valve positions of the regulating valves (V1, V2) set for the determined value of the hydraulic system variable. The characteristic parameters are calculated from plural measurement data sets, by grouping related measurement data sets, which include the same value of the hydraulic system variable but different valve positions, and by using the flow capacity (Kvalve,a, Kvalve,b) of the regulating valves (V1, V2) at the valve positions included in the data sets.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Forest Reider, Marc Thuillard
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Patent number: 9845965Abstract: Disclosed is an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system which comprises a fluid flow duct (1), a fluid flow valve (7) which is arranged therein and has a valve body (5) in the fluid flow duct (1) and a valve motor (15) which moves the valve body (5), a control circuit for activating the valve motor, a sensor (8) in the fluid flow duct (1) and an evaluation module for evaluating signals of the sensor. To produce an automated functional control, the following procedure is adopted: a first actuation signal is preset for the valve motor by the control circuit, and the actuation signal corresponds to a first setpoint position of the valve body (5), registration of a first signal of the sensor (8) by the evaluation module, and determination of a functional diagnosis of the fluid flow valve on the basis of the first signal of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Belimo Holding AGInventors: Frank Lehnert, Peter Schmidlin
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Publication number: 20170328413Abstract: A control device (10?) comprises a control unit (10?) with a control element for controlling a fluid flow and being rotatable about a first axis (13) between an open position and a closed position, and further comprises a separate motor-driven actuator unit (24), which is mechanically coupled to said control unit (10?) to rotate said control element about said first axis (13) in a controllable fashion, whereby said actuator unit (24) comprises a driving part (25) with a driving element (31) being rotatable about a second axis (26), to be mechanically coupled to said control element in a coupling position to rotate said control element about said first axis (13), and a control part (28) for driving said driving element (31) in a controllable fashion. An easy and space-saving assembly is achieved having said driving element (31) removable coupled to said control unit (10?) by means of a spur gearing (Hirth serration) (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2015Publication date: November 16, 2017Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Georg BAMBERGER, Urs NIEDERHAUSER
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Patent number: 9766633Abstract: For the purpose of balancing (S3) a group of consumers in a fluid transport system in which each consumer is configured with a motorized regulating valve for the purpose of regulating the flow through the consumer, characteristic data for the consumer is saved (S2) which determines a valve position of the corresponding regulating valve for the target throughput through each consumer. A momentary total throughput through the group of consumers is determined (S32) by means of a common throughput sensor, and based on the momentary total throughput and a sum of the desired target throughputs through the consumers, a balancing factor is determined (S34). By setting (S31) the valve positions of the corresponding regulating valves based on the characteristic data and the balancing factor, a dynamic balancing of the consumers is carried out.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Norbert Markus Lederle, Urs Keller, Reto Hobi, Peter Schmidlin
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Patent number: 9667188Abstract: An actuator (1?) for driving a regulating element (30) for controlling a fluid flow in a flow channel (29) includes an electric motor (4) for driving the regulating element (30) and a control unit (2) for controlling a current provided to the electric motor (4). A resistive element (3) including a resistor (5) and a NTC thermistor (6) connected in parallel across the resistor (5) is positioned in a current path from the control unit (2) to the motor (4). Accordingly, when the ambient temperature increases, the decreasing resistance of the resistive element (3) counterbalances the increasing resistance of the motor windings, resulting in a less varying current from the control unit (2) to the motor (4) and therewith in a less varying output torque of the motor (4).Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2011Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Ralf Kaestle, Harald Bergmann, Patrick Thuer
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Patent number: 9639099Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for regulating the room temperature in a room or in a plurality of rooms, the room temperature can be regulated by regulating the mass flow of a heat-carrying fluid flowing through a heat exchanger according to a determined current room temperature. In accordance with some embodiments, a temperature sensor in the room can be dispensed that can determine the current room temperature, in each case the mass flow of the heat carrying fluid through the heat exchanger and the flow temperature prevailing at the input to the heat exchanger and the return temperature prevailing at the output of the heat exchanger are measured, and that a temperature assigned to the determined values of the mass flow, the flow temperature and the return temperature is output as the current room temperature and used for regulation.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Peter Schmidlin, Norbert Lederle
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Publication number: 20170102086Abstract: A butterfly valve comprises a seat ring (1), a centered valve disc (3) and a valve axis (16). The seat ring (1) and the valve disc (3) are constructed to co-operate as first and second elements of a seal for sealing a volume in which the valve axis (16) is located from internal volume of the valve. The seal is substantially a radial-force-type seal with respect to the valve axis (16). The torque for opening or closing the valve is not more than 160 Nm. The invention relates further to an actuator for a butterfly valve comprising either a voltage detection and/or a temperature and/or humidity controller and/or a safety subsystem to prevent fire in the case of fault conditions. The invention relates further to a hand crank detection system for a butterfly valve, a position indicator for a butterfly valve and an adapter between a butterfly valve and its actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2015Publication date: April 13, 2017Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Werner ARNOLD, Andreas FURRER, Beat WEBER, Reto ANLIKER, Beat HOTZ, Roy BEARTH, Paul GUYER, Piero BETTI
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Publication number: 20170067665Abstract: A 6-way valve (20) comprises two similar 3-way sub-valves (20a, 20b) being mechanically coupled with each other, such that both sub-valves (20a, 20b) are always in the same position, whereby each sub-valve (20a, 20b) has three different valve ports (33, 34, 35) and a valve member (22?) with an internal connecting channel (29), which valve member (22?) can moved between first and second end positions via an intermediate position such that in said first end position the first (33) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), in said second end position the second (34) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), and in said intermediate position said connecting channel (29) is disconnected from said first and second valve ports (33, 34).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Ryan WHITMORE, Daryl KAUFMAN, Urs KELLER, Beat HOTZ
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Publication number: 20170065839Abstract: The present invention relates to a blocking device (4) for a damper drive, wherein the blocking device (4) can be transferred by activation from an inoperative state into an alternative activated state. The blocking device (4) comprises a movably mounted blocking element (41) which, in a blocking position, blocks an output member (13) in a safety position. The blocking device (4) further comprises a drive element (42) which, when the blocking device (4) is activated, moves the blocking element (41) into the blocking position. The blocking device further comprises an activating element (43) which, when a blocking temperature has been exceeded, activates the blocking device (4) by an irreversible change in shape. Also disclosed are a damper drive with a blocking device, a fire protection device and a method for operating a fire protection device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Beat WEBER, Peter DREHER, Atilla BEKER
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Publication number: 20170026779Abstract: A mobile communication device (2) comprises a mobile radio communication module, configured for data communication in a mobile radio communication network, and a close range radio communication module, configured to establish a local communication link (43) to an actuator (3) via a close range radio communication interface (33) that is connected to the actuator (3) and located in communication range of the close range radio communication module. The mobile communication device (2) further comprises a processing unit connected to the mobile radio communication module and the close range radio communication module (23), and configured to exchange location-specific data with a remote data server (8) via the mobile radio communication network, the contents of the location-specific data being dependent on identification information associated with the local communication link (43) to the actuator (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2014Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Peter SCHMIDLIN, Marc THUILLARD, Kurt MEIER, Daniel RONER
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Patent number: 9548682Abstract: An actuator (1M, 1S) with a motor (12) and a motor controller (11) is configurable to operate as a master or a slave to another actuator which is coupled mechanically for driving a common load. For the case where the actuator (1M) is set as the master, the motor controller (11) receives on an input terminal (Y3) an external position control signal (pC), generates a motor control signal (sC) for controlling the motor (12) based on the position control signal (pC), and supplies the motor control signal (sC) to an output terminal (U5) for controlling a slave. For the case where the actuator (1S) is set as the slave, the motor controller (11) controls the motor (12) by supplying to the motor (12) the motor control signal (sC) received from the master. Controlling the actuators with a master improves workload balancing and reduces damages to transmission mechanics of the actuators.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2011Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Paul F. Guyer, Atilla Beker, Beat Weber
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Publication number: 20160291608Abstract: A hydraulic network (1) having plural parallel zones (Z1, Z2) with a regulating valve (V1, V2) in each zone for regulating a flow of fluid (?1, ?2) through respective zones. Characteristic parameters of the hydraulic network (1) include static flow capacity values (Kex,a, Kex,b) of the zones. Measurement data sets are recorded which include a determined value of a hydraulic system variable of the hydraulic network (1), e.g. the total flow (?tot) or the system pressure (?P), and valve positions of the regulating valves (V1, V2) set for the determined value of the hydraulic system variable. The characteristic parameters are calculated from plural measurement data sets, by grouping related measurement data sets, which include the same value of the hydraulic system variable but different valve positions, and by using the flow capacity (Kvalve,a, Kvalve,b) of the regulating valves (V1, V2) at the valve positions included in the data sets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AGInventors: Forest REIDER, Marc THUILLARD
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Patent number: 9435557Abstract: A control unit (22) for an HVAC system (10) comprises an economizer (EC), which economizer (EC) is configured to introduce outdoor air (OA) into the HVAC system (10) for cooling and/or ventilation purposes in a manner controlled by said control unit (22), said control unit (22) comprising a base module (23) with: a control circuit (24), a man machine interface (25) connected to said control circuit (24), and first I/O means for connecting at least one sensor (32, . . . , 36) of said HVAC system to said control circuit (24) and for delivering at least one control signal from said control circuit (24) to control the operation of said economizer (EC). Said base module (23) is configured to optionally receive at least one extension module (26, 27, 28), which can be snapped on and electrically connected to said base module (23) for expanding the functionality of said control unit (22).Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: BELIMO Holding AGInventors: Daniel Albrecht, Ronald Aeberhard, Guido Hofstetter, Darryl Deangelis